Topic: The Communion and Sweet Incense of Prayer. Prayer. Worship. Kingdom> Category: Success>
Bible Scriptures: Revelation 5:8-10, Revelation 8:3-5 and Luke 1:11-17.
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Through the prophetic vision given to the Apostle John when exiled on the island of Patmos, we gain a beautiful insight into how God treasures the prayers of His people.
Revelation 5:8-10 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
heart to heart communion of prayer
The twenty four elders are those who represent all who have received God’s right to rule and reign from both the Old and New Testament era. Those of Hebrew lineage are joined together with those of every tongue, people group and nation. All as one gathered around God’s throne. In unison testifying of the one who sits on the throne and the Lamb who was slain.
God the Father is the one who sits on the throne and the Lamb who was slain is Jesus.
The twenty four elders are physically in the most holy of holiest place. All have been made to be kings and priests by God and will rule and reign with God on earth.
Each one has a harp and a golden bowl full of incense. The harp represents worship, which is the heart to heart connection that God initiates and empowers us to have. The communion and joining of heart to heart, spirit to spirit.
In the vision given to John, this heart to heart connection of worship is intimately linked with the prayers of the saints.
We have that connection now on earth with the Father in heaven. Just as Jesus did during His time on earth as a human. Even tho Jesus was still fully divine when He became human, He often went away from the crowds to have an intimate, special, tranquil moment with His Father in heaven. To that secret place deep in the heart of the Father. A special time of communion, that is a oneness in prayer, will and being. Connected heart to heart, spirit to spirit, heaven to earth, earth to heaven.
oneness in prayer, will and being
When on earth Jesus testified of His eternal state, and relationship of intimacy and oneness with God the Father. From in the beginning, together they created. Forever eternally one, the Father, Son and Spirit are forever God.
Jesus’ disciples as they journey with Him, observed this intimacy and communion that He had with the Father in heaven. They knew the times that Jesus went to be alone with the Father and pray.
So they asked Him, ‘Lord teach us to pray.’
In response to His disciples request, Jesus beautifully shared with them the heart of Father God in heaven in a way they would understand. Jesus testified that the relationship He had with God the Father was for us also.
Jesus began by stating, ‘Our Father who is in heaven…’ Immediately the disciples are included in the relationship as a child of God. The same Father that Jesus is intimate with, is the same Father in heaven we have communion and intimacy with.
For Jesus said, my Father is your Father. He is our Father in heaven, God the Father, hallowed is His name. Jesus reveals how glorious and sacred the Father is by honouring Him. The Kingdom of God had come on earth in Jesus’ coming. As it is the will and good pleasure of God, Father, Son and Spirit to set humanity free. To deliver us from evil and bring the fullness of salvation to us and all creation in a way we can receive and believe.
Where we are at home with God, as He is at home with us. In an intimate relationship of communion and fellowship, filled with awe and wonder. To bring all things together in one, in Jesus.
sweet incense of prayer
When we say yes to Jesus, yes to God, we have His Spirit within. That heart to heart communion and sweet incense of prayer and worship that Jesus had on earth is given to us. As we live in these finite bodies, in this world damaged by evil, His presence and intimacy with our Father in heaven is a touch of heaven on earth.
Prayer is a privilege as it is communion and intimacy with God. A two way relationship of just being together. Just being together, that is humanity one with the divine. This communion and fellowship of prayer is linked to worship. Remembering worship is a heart to heart connection that flows out of that place of revelation, intimacy, honour and communion. It is God who initiates this relationship of intimacy and it is God who brings revelation and enables it to happen.
It is with His Spirit in us on earth that we are one with God in heaven. Connected heart to heart, spirit to spirit. Each day is a new day to surrender self will and know and experience a touch of heaven on earth in communion and fellowship with the divine.
For this is the heart of God. That we know and experience Him more and more each day, intimately and personally. As priests testifying of who God is and what He has done, is doing and will do. With a heart to heart connection of worship in communion of sweet incense of prayer we sing the new song. For we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and gathered together into the depths of Father God’s heart.
right to rule and reign
As kings we rule and reign victoriously with Him over our selfish desires and evil. In the fullness of time we will not just be spiritually in communion and fellowship with God, but physically together be gathered around His throne. This is our future inheritance of our eternal bodies that never get sick, never die and never wear out.
Back to the vision of heaven give to John.
In addition to the harps are golden bowls. They are full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. The saints being every one throughout the ages who has said yes to God, yes to Jesus. They have received God’s right to rule and reign and have given their allegiance to Him.
As we journeyed through the Mystery of the Seven Seals, we discovered that on the opening of the seventh seal, a unique and special moment of honour occurred in heaven in connection with the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 8:3-5 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
An actual sustained silence in heaven occurs with the opening of the seventh seal. All of heaven, together with God, honours every prayer throughout the ages. Every prayer of every body who has said yes to Jesus, yes to God is considered to be most precious.
prayer of the highest value
Remembering the twenty four elders had the prayers of the saints in golden bowls in the earlier text, the golden bowls represent how precious they are. Gold representing not only the value from which all other value must be assessed by but a symbol of the sacred. The prayers of the saints are together with incense are placed upon the sacred altar, the golden altar before the throne. The place of ultimate authority and power, beauty and magnificence, majesty and splendour. The centre of God’s kingdom and presence.
In the opening of the seventh seal not only are the prayers of the saints honoured with silence in heaven, but they are filled with the fire of God. As a result they become effective on earth.
When we pray it is a spirit to spirit connection. A special time of communion and fellowship with divine. Where in surrender of our selfish will there is a uniting of will with the divine. God intimately and gently pours His will and heart into our heart.
In a heart mind condition of surrender we pray, ‘Father not my will, but your will be done. That is on earth, as it is in heaven. It is the will of God that we are truly free. All things be gathered together in one in Jesus.
So together we herald in God’s kingdom. We the church are the witness or prophetic voice of Jesus on earth. Just like John the Baptist, we testify and declare the word of the Lord. In preparation for the kings of all kings return in all His glory. Preparing the way of the Lord.
John the Baptist’s earthly father was a priest. His name was Zacharias. Through Zacharias’ encounter with an angel, we get another glimpse into how God values our prayers.
a glimpse into the heart of God
Luke 1:11-17 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
In the Old Testament burning incense upon the altar was a way for the Israelites to know they are forgiven. It was a symbolic act to make amends. So when offered with the right heart by the priest, the burning of incense became a sweet aroma. It enabled the Israelites to believe and receive God’s forgiveness that is always there for them.
The burning of incense is connected with prayer and prayer is connected with worship. For the sweet incense of prayer is being in communion and intimacy with God and worship is that heart to heart connection.
So the angel appeared at the right side of the altar of incense. The right side being a position of power and authority.
people get ready
The angel said, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard…’
Not only has Zacharias’ prayer been heard, but the answer will be embodied in his miracle son who will be the forerunner to the saviour of the world. His son will declare the word of the Lord and will go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah. This is a reference to the prophecy that Elijah shall be the forerunner to the coming of the Lord. John the Baptist will have that place and anointing, declaring the word of the Lord. Through his words from God, people will be brought to that place of changing their mind about God and all who are willing will be ready to receive Him. Be ready to receive God in Jesus and His right to rule and reign.
So John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit, grew to be a man and declared the word of the Lord. He testified of who Jesus is when in front of the multitudes John declared, ‘Behold the lamb of God!’
communion and oneness of prayer
The church, that is everyone who has said yes to Jesus, is anointed to testify of Him. As we all have His Holy Spirit within. These are the days of the harvest and together we anticipate Jesus’ return on earth.
Until Jesus returns and we physically are together in the fusion of the new heaven and the new earth, let us take time out. Take a moment away from the crowds and have an intimate, special, tranquil moment with our Father in heaven. A special time of communion, that is a oneness in prayer, will and being. Connected heart to heart, spirit to spirit, heaven to earth, earth to heaven in Jesus.
SERMON CATEGORIES
unsearchable mysteries> son of man> love of God> hope and healing> know God> truth> power> end times> experience God> life> success in life> kingdom> the miracles of the wilderness journey>
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